Maurice Nesbit

An unofficial telegram has been received from an intermediary source stating that Mr M.S. Nesbitt, French Master at the Consett Technical Institute, and who had been detained as a prisoner of war in Germany died suddenly on October 5.

Mr Nesbitt who had acted as French teacher at the Institute for exactly 12 months, when the school broke up for the summer vacation on July 29, proceeded immediately to take up a holiday course of studies at the University of Marburg, Germany, arriving the day prior to the declaration of war. Of course Mr Nesbitt was at once arrested and detained as a prisoner of war and was interned in a workhouse, paying for his own board and lodgings. Through the kindness of a clergyman who was released from Germany because he was considered beyond the age for taking up arms, Mr Nesbitt succeeded in conveying home a letter to his wife and expressed the hope that he would be able to return home about the middle of October. Mrs Nesbitt has since had another letter from her husband. He was almost capable and efficient instructor and in the meanwhile his duties have been undertaken by Mr Nesbitt, who is also an experienced teacher.

The Consett Guardian 30/10/1914 reports:-

Reported Death of Mr M. Nesbit of Consett

On Monday a telegram was received by Mrs Nesbit of Benfieldside, dated from Amsterdam to the effect that her husband died suddenly at Marburg, in Germany on October 5th.

This message was not official - it appears to have come from a personal friend and although endeavors have been made to obtain further information, nothing so far has been forthcoming. Mrs Nesbit refuses to believe it is correct, pending the result of urgent enquiries.

It will be remembered that Mr Maurice Nesbit, who was the teacher of French at the Consett Technical Institute left home at the beginning of August to spend his holidays abroad and that he took advantage of the opportunity to go to Marburg University to take a course of study in the German language. On the very day after his arrival, however war was declared and he was immediately taken prisoner. Indirectly several letters were received from him, the last about a month ago, in which, although he was interned in an institution similar to our workhouse, he stated that he was happy and cheerful, and looking forward to coming home at the end of October. That time has now arrived and the anxiety on his account has been sadly accentuated by the unofficial news of his death.

The Illustrated Chronicle 27/02/1915 reads:-

Born in 1880, Maurice Sidney Nesbitt had trained as a teacher, and held several prestigious posts. His last posting was as a French master at the Secondary School at Consett Technical Institute.

He had gone to Germany in July 1914, just before the outbreak of war to take a course of training in German philology at the University of Marburg. He was arrested and imprisoned with other Englishmen of military age.

The details of his death were not known.

The Gloucestershire Echo 25/06/1915 reads:-

News has just been received in Cheltenham that last October Mr Maurice Sidney Nesbitt died "suddenly" at Marburg in Germany. No other particulars of his death have been made known and consequently there is much speculation as to whether he was a victim of German oppression or died a natural death. he was only 35 years of age and was the son of Mr S.P. Nesbitt for many years a drawing master at the College and now residing in Australia. Mr Nesbitt was himself at Cheltenham College from 1890 to 1898 and in the latter year carried off the Hornby Prize. He afterwards graduated at London University taking a first class in modern languages and became a schoolmaster.

Maurice Sidney Nesbitt married Catherine May Pickford 16/07/1908 at Edmonton and they had two children Charles Maurice Grillet 29/01/1909 and Marion Catherine born 23/04/1911.

Maurice Sidney Nesbitt is not on any North East War Memorial.